The Thurston County Board of Commissioners established an
Agriculture Advisory Committee in 1978 to advise the Thurston County
Commissioners and Planning Commission on public decisions and/or
emerging issues that would significantly affect agriculture. Additional
functions are to review local, state, or federal programs identified by
staff that could affect Thurston County agriculture; to conduct a
regular review or evaluation of County efforts to protect and support
agriculture; to consider and recommend new initiatives; and to work
closely with WSU Thurston County Extension and other groups to help them support
agriculture.

Committee Membership

The Committee is composed of eleven members serving two-year terms.
Four members are to be non-farmer members to represent rural residents
who may be affected by County efforts to protect farmland. Seven members
are to be farmer-members representing a variety of the agriculture
commodities produced in Thurston County and geographic areas of the
County. Members may appoint alternates to serve during an absence.
Ex-Officio members are appointed by the Board of Commissioners. Current
ex-officio members are staff from the WSU Thurston County Extension offices
serving Thurston County, and the Thurston Conservation District.
Ex-officio members participate as other appointed members in discussions
and may designate alternates to serve during an absence.

Meeting Schedule

Meetings times are 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Special meetings may be
called at the discretion of the Chair. Regular meetings may be canceled
by the Chair. See below for past meeting minutes and materials.

Draft Working Lands Strategic Plan

The goal of the Working Lands Strategic Plan is to help ensure the
economic viability of farm and forest lands so property owners are more
likely to stay in business rather than convert their land to urban uses.
Thurston County and its residents will benefit from a healthy
agricultural economy, the protection of irreplaceable growing soils, and
the continuity of the rural character that makes the region such a
desirable place to live. This plan is the result of many years of
dedicated work by the Thurston County Agricultural Advisory Committee
and contributions from the county’s working lands community. It contains
ideas, suggestions and recommendations presented by stakeholders at a
focus group meeting, a public meeting, and at Agricultural Committee
meetings. The strategies presented in this plan are based, in large
part, on their input.